Unbelievably, we have come to the end of another school year together; this one my last as your Middle School Principal at ISS. As I look back over our time together, I am filled with pride and gratitude for the time I have been able to spend working with parents, teachers, and most especially students in our very special learning environment.

Our annual Arts Exhibition which was held on Friday evening was one of many community events held this year that highlighted our close knit family atmosphere. A special note of appreciation goes out to Mr. Lee and Ms. Regan for the tremendous amount of organization that went into putting together this very successful event. Thanks also to Ms. Hurst and Mr. Shelly for organizing the lovely student musical performances which added to the atmosphere of the event.

As I conclude my time at ISS, I want to thank you all of you for your constant support of the Middle School and our work together to fulfil the mission and vision of ISS to "Make a Difference" in the life of every child. My time at ISS has been an incredibly rewarding experience from which I will take many happy memories. I will always feel part of the ISS family.

​Have a wonderful summer!

Upcoming Events

June 7- 8th Grade End of Year Celebration to be followed by high tea at the Pan Pacific Orchard HotelJune 8- Middle School End of Semester Outing- See the attached document for more detailsJune 8- Second Semester Reports sent homeJune 9- Last day of school for students- school ends at 12:00pm- There will be no lunch service on the last day of school

You may have noticed my absence around campus over the past week. As a school accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS), we participate in a rigorous self evaluation and improvement process which takes place over the course of 10 years. Right now, ISS is preparing for its 5 year report which is a "check-up" of our progress towards goals and other areas we have targeted for improvement. Our recent community-wide strategic planning exercise is an important part of how we meet the standards set by CIS.

As a member school, some of our staff are invited to participate on accreditation teams to measure the success of other schools against their own goals and the standards set by CIS. Over the last week, I visited a school in China and served as the co-chair of a CIS Visiting Team for just such a visit. These visits are always very powerful learning experiences for me and I always come away with a few really good ideas from other schools. They also validate the excellent work we are already doing here together in the ISS Community.

ES-MS Art Exhibition

Our ES-MS Art Exhibition 'Rainbow Connection' will be held on 3 June, Friday, 5.00-7.30pm, @ ES-MS Hall. Artwork by our K1-G8 students will be on display to showcase their artistic talents as well as their learning journey through the Visual Art curriculum. Please refer to the messages sent to parents via ManageBac for more details.

Upcoming Events

June 3- Elementary and Middle School Art ExhibitionJune 7- 8th Grade End of Year Celebration to be followed by high tea at the Pan Pacific Orchard Hotel-Parents/ Guardians of 8th Graders please don't forget to return your child's permission form as soon as possible.June 8- Middle School End of Semester OutingJune 8- Second Semester Reports sent homeJune 9- Last day of school for students- school ends at 12:00pm- There will be no lunch service on the last day of school

The middle school years are important times of transition from childhood to adulthood where students are given increasing amounts of independence to manage their own affairs. In many cases, it's valuable for parents/ guardians to allow students choice in making decisions about their academics, style of dress, and friendship groups even if they make mistakes. In the coming days, our students will be making time management decisions relating to exam preparation. Parents often ask me how to best support their child's learning at home while allowing them a measure of independence. When I talk to parents about this subject, we invariably discuss the study environment set up at home.

Here are a few pieces of advise you might find useful in helping your children set up a successful home study environment:​

Make sure the space for study is quiet and free from distraction. It's not possible for a person's mind to pay close attention to more than one thing at a time (this is one of the reasons why people should never talk on the phone or send text messages while driving). If students are learning new information in class for example, teachers try to make sure that distractions such as music, loud noises and other input are minimised especially at that time. At home, make sure students are not distracted by things happening around them in their study area when they need to concentrate.

Studying when listening to music is only effective when: the task is very easy/ already learned or the volume is at such a low level that children are not actually paying attention to it. Music is distracting to students when it is either too loud or played during a time when intense concentration is needed. Studying with a TV on in the room is never recommended.

If 20 minutes is required for homework in a particular subject, make sure this time is uninterrupted. Time spent switching between tasks can be very disruptive to study and learning. For this reason, students should not work on tasks from different subjects at the same time or respond to text messages/ phone calls when concentration is needed. Each time a task is started and stopped mental energy is consumed and the chance to learn effectively is lessened. Frequently checking email, selecting and reselecting music choices, and internet surfing each have destructive influences on learning when done at a time where concentration is required.

Please refer to our Middle School Parent/ Student Handbook (click on the tab above) for our homework policy. Students should not be spending more than about 60-90 minutes per evening on homework at the very most. Students who work on homework longer than this generally: are not very efficient with their time, do not get enough sleep, miss out on critical socialization or exercise opportunities and, most importantly, lose interest in their studies. Students who spend too much time each evening studying are not rewarded with enhanced wellbeing or academic success.

In the next few days, take a few minutes to listen to your child's study strategy and work together to plan for their success. As I've written previously, exams are just one of many assessments for learning in the Middle School and should not be the cause of unhealthy pressure for students. Working together, we can help our students make the most out of this learning opportunity.

Upcoming Events:

May 23-27- Middle School Exam WeekJune 3- Elementary and Middle School Art ExhibitionJune 7- 8th Grade End of Year Celebration to be followed by high tea at the Pan Pacific Orchard Hotel- details coming soon!June 8- Middle School End of Semester OutingJune 8- Second Semester Reports sent homeJune 9- Last day of school for students- school ends at 12:00pm

7th Grade Design students measuring their success in programming robots to perform a task

Middle School Exams

Each year the Middle School, we hold exams in May to gather data on student aptitude across several subjects. Data gathered from student performance helps them to better understand their strengths and areas for improvement. Exam data also helps teachers to refine their teaching and learning practices and better meet the needs of their students. Exams are one of many tools teachers use to assess their students and are NOT high stakes events in the Middle School

Please read the letter below which describes in some detail our upcoming exams.

Upcoming events

PTA- Final Meeting of the Year- Monday, May 9th 8-9:15 am in the Elementary School MPR

In February ISS students in Elementary, Middle and High School took the ISA (International Schools Assessment) over the course of 2 days. Across the globe, over 60,000 students participated in this assessment which measures aptitude in math, reading and writing. This year we are very pleased with our results in the Middle School which, overall, portray continuing significant improvement. Please take a few minutes to read the letter below which explains the ISA and its purpose at ISS.

Accessing your child's ISA results

Today individual ISA assessment results were uploaded to ManageBac. Parents and guardians will be able to access these results through their ManageBac Account. Once you log into ManageBac, click on the PERSONAL link under the PORTFOLIO tab in the ACADEMICS section. ISA results are downloadable at the bottom of the page (see below)

As many of you know my family and I will be moving on to an international school posting in Switzerland at the end of the 2015-16 school year. It is with more than a little sadness that share this news with you. Since I arrived in 2012, there has been no small amount of change in the Middle School and I'm very proud of our many accomplishments. As much as we have evolved together over the last several years, the essence of who we are has remained the same however. ISS remains true to its mission and commitment to maintain a nurturing, empowering and inclusive environment for all students. I'm proud to be part of one chapter in the ISS story and call so many parents and teachers my friends after 4 wonderful years at ISS.

I am very pleased to share the news that Mr. Michael Taylor, who is currently our Assistant Principal, will take over the day to day leadership of the Middle School next year. Michael is a very experienced international school leader and is well positioned to lead the Middle School into the future. His energy, knowledge, and commitment to students makes him a great fit for the position. Please join me in congratulating Michael Taylor!

Parent Focus Group Meeting

We will be holding a parent focus group meeting on Wednesday April 27th at 7pm in the ES Multi Purpose Room. The purpose of this meeting is to keep parents informed about facilities and program improvements and gather feedback to help us improve as an educational institution. At the meeting we will use the findings from the Parent Survey that was delivered recently to drive a discussion about our future goals. This meeting is open to all parents.Please join us as this is a great opportunity to be a part of ISS' decision making processes!If you would like to attend, please contact sallychoy@iss.edu.sg to book a place. Wine and canapes will be served.

Hagar Clothing Drive

As part of our Middle School Service as Action program this semester we will be partnering with Hagar International to both raise awareness of gender equality and to collect used clothing to help fund Hagar’s social and educational initiatives.

The mission of Hagar is to “ restore to wholeness the lives of women and children who have been torn apart by human rights abuse. “ At the May 9th MS assembly, we will have a representative from Hagar’s Singapore branch speak to the kids about the organisation and the programs they provide. Parents and guardians are warmly welcome to come and learn more about Hagar and the work they do to improve the lives of those most disadvantaged.

Service as Action Aims:

To show support for Hagar’s effort to help women and children who are trafficked and abused.

To collect reusable clothes to raise funds for Hagar Singapore

To support the UN Sustainable Development Goal #5 of Gender Equality in our end of year ( June 8th) event where girls and boys will play together in an inter-house competition.

As part of our efforts to help Hagar, we will be having a clothing drive this semester. Do you have stuffed cabinets and closets with clothing you would like to donate to a good cause? If so, we would very much like your donation. Please have your child drop off the clothing at the respective rooms listed below according to their house membership.

Rm 1- OrchardRm 2- SomersetRm 3- NewtonRm 4- Raffles

If you have further questions about this service activity, please contact Mr. Ballinger or Ms. Oh to learn more.

Upcoming Events

Monday April 25th- Whole Day- 8th grade transition activities at the High SchoolWednesday April 27th- 7pm- Parent Feedback Focus Group in the ES Multipurpose RoomMonday May 2nd- No School- Labor Day HolidayMay 23rd- 27th- Middle School Exam Week (more information to be shared soon)

Don't forget to sign up for Student Led Conferences this week if you have not already done so. Please check last week's post for the conference sign up link if you still need to sign up. All students are expected to attend Student Led Conferences on Tuesday the 19th with their parents/ guardians. There are no regular classes scheduled for Tuesday and students should only come to school at their designated conference time.

On the 19th during Student Led Conferences, we will be holding a book fair for interested students and parents. Please drop by the library with your children to look through this year's selection of books available for purchase. The book fair will be open from 8:30am-4:00pm.

Derek Pinchbeck and I will be discussing the role of homework in the lives of students at the meeting. Those interested in learning more about the latest educational research related to homework can click on the link below.

Over the next several weeks, we will be holding transition activities for our 8th graders to prepare them for high school. Our MYP Coordinator, Fang Shelly will be visiting with each student to discuss arts and language choices for 8th graders soon. Additionally, 8th graders will spend most of the day at the high school on April 25th to sit in on classes, speak to students and get a feel for the "Preston Road experience." This will be an exciting day for our 8th graders and I'm sure they will want to talk to you about their day at the dinner table next Monday! If you have any questions about our 8th grade transition day or course choices in 9th grade, please contact Fang Shelly. (fshelly@iss.sg.edu)

Upcoming Events:

Monday, April 18th- 8:00am- PTA meeting in the Middle School HallTuesday, April 19th- whole day- Student Led ConferencesMonday, April 25th- whole day- 8th grade transition day at the high school

Believe it or not, we are now entering the last quarter of our school year. We have a number of important events and celebrations coming up over the next several weeks. Please keep checking this blog often to keep track of what's happening here in the Middle School.

Student Led Conferences- Next week on April 19th we will be holding our annual Student Led Conference (SLC) Day. This is NOT a regular school day for students as they will be required to be on campus only for their conferences. There are no scheduled classes or after school activities on the 19th.

During SLC's students will share with their parents/ guardians the story of their learning over the course of the school year. The portfolios they will share with you are the culmination of many months of work at school. It's important that all parents and guardians participate in this important reflective event with their children. I attached the link to sign up for SLC's below along with another copy of a letter I sent out before the holiday which gives more information about the event and how to sign up. We look forward to seeing you all there!

Why do we give students homework in Middle School? Many parents consider homework a necessary part of a student's after school experience without thinking about its purpose too much. At ISS, we set limits to the amount of homework students should be completing each evening as there is ample research that shows that increasing homework loads on children do not necessarily lead to increased performance or well-being. By the time students reach middle school, they are often put in a position where they are balancing the demands of homework, extracurricular activities, and family commitments. Very importantly, students also want and need time to socialize and be kids!

Please join Derek Pinchbeck and me as we discuss the important issue of homework at ISS at our next PTA meeting.

Congratulations to our student performers! Thanks to each of your who came out to support our students at Middle School's Got Talent last week. We had a tremendous turnout of parent and student visitors on both evenings. Additionally, we were pleased once again to present a matinee performance to our non-participating Middle School Students along with the entire 4th grade. I'm so impressed with the hard work and creativity of each student who joined our talent show. Each performance was selected/ created/ written by Middle School Students. With the steady support of Mr. Lebon, our students delivered outstanding shows to large audiences in the Middle School Hall which was transformed into a cabaret theater for the event. As always, all proceeds from our performances will go to fund the education of three children at the Sok Sobay Children's Home in Cambodia.

PTA Fun Fair

It was wonderful to see so many of you this afternoon at the Fun Fair. Hundreds of parents, teachers, students and visitors came to the Paterson Campus today. This year featured many student performances, food, crafts, games, a bouncy house and a dunk tank (I took a turn getting wet this year!). A huge thank you goes out to Nadine Trentini and the entire PTA for putting together such a wonderfully organized community event. The Fun Fair is just one of the many ways in which we strengthen our bonds as an ISS family

Attendance

Over the past few weeks the Middle School has sent out attendance "reminders" to some of our families. As I've written previously in this blog, it is very important for students to maximize their attendance at school in order to meet our grade level expectations and comply with Singapore Law. As we move closer to our Spring Break holiday, please keep in mind that any student absence related to vacation will be considered "unexcused."

Other upcoming events:

Sports Day- March 18th. Sports Day is a HALF DAY of school for our students. Please refer to Ms. Allan's recent ManageBac message for more details about Sports Day.

March 19- April 4 -- Spring Break Holiday... Please note that the first day of school after the holiday is Tuesday, April 5th.

April 19- Middle School Student Led Conferences- There are no regularly scheduled classes for students on April 19th. Students should come to school with their parents/ guardians only for their scheduled conference.

Middle School students learning about personal safety from our neighbourhood police liaison

A busy final two weeks!

​There are many exciting events on our calendar in the final two weeks before our next holiday. In the coming week we will celebrate our talented students at our Middle School's Got Talent showcase. Please join us at the show on Wednesday or Thursday evening!​

Fun Fair- 2016

If you miss our Talent Showcase, you can check out reprises for some student performances at the Fun Fair on March 13th on the Paterson Campus. Please join us for this wonderful community event!

.... and lastly Sports Day!

Middle and High School Sports Day will take place on March 18th. Sports Day is a HALF DAY of school for Middle Schoolers. Please see Ms. Allan's Managebac post from March 2nd to review details of this exciting event.

Other upcoming events:

March 19- April 4 -- Spring Break Holiday

April 19- Middle School Student Led Conferences- There are no regularly scheduled classes for students on April 19th. Students should come to school with their parents/ guardians only for their scheduled conference. Information about Student Led Conferences will be sent home in the next few weeks.